Machine for testing ribbons and carbon paper



May 12, 1925.A

J. A. L. MLLER MACHINE FOR TESTING RIBBoNs AND CARBON PAPER .Filed Feb'. 4, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 A'ITORNEY May 12, 1925. 1,537,179

J. A. 1 MLLER MACHINE FOR TESTING RIBBONS AND CARBON PAPER .Filed Feb', 4, 1924 Smeets-sheet. 2

ATTORNEY 1 J. A. l.. MLLER MACHINE Fon TEsTING RIBBoNs AND CARBON PAP May 12,1925.

Filed Feti. 4, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 miauw-mmm.

lilla/Ill!!! Y A 'si 4603 A. L. M0245@ ATTORNEY Patented May 12, 1925.

@unirse .STATES .PAIE-NT ermee.

Moorea. 1.. mentener New. sro-ax, lN. Yr., .essrenonmeysgmnnnan PRODUCT-s yooni f mannen, A consonancia or New Yoan.`

Maenner: :son 'rns'rrNe menons nim cannon rarita.'

Application v:filedlebruary 4, 1324. Serial No. 690,462, i

To all wzom t may concern:

' VA'Beit known that-I, JACOB A. L. lslnmn,

a citizen of 4the AUnited States, residing at NewYork, inthe countyof New York and 5 State of New Yorln'lime invented a certain new-and useful lmproyement in Machines for Testing Ribbons f andl Carbon Paper, of Vwhich the 4following is a clear, full', and exact description. f

*My invention lrela-tes `tol a machine 4'for testing the quality kof vin kingv ribbons and carbon papers, `kandghas `forfits object -the provision *of ay machine of this type ywhich is efficient and rapid inV operation and simple in` construction. f

To test ribbons and Icarbon paper, it is customary to subject them to repeated blows of a type member or members, the type makina-.an im ression on )a er or other" suitablewmeans, through the ribbon or carbonL paper to be tested'. The characterfof the impressions andI their number, together with thecolndition of the ribbon or paper *after4 the test, gives an indication of the `quality ofthe materials of which they are made, as Well asthe uality of the ink or carbon mixture used. j ince carbon paper is usually made of tissue, while /theinki'ngf ribbon is ofvmucli denser fabric, the intensity of percussive action to whichthe former may be subjected is far less than may be permitted inthe'case ofthe latter; Therefore, a percussive action suitable for testing carbon papers/would beimpractcal for use in testing ribbons, because the number of impressions necessary to be made in the case 'of a ribbon wouldbe very large. i i

A feature of myV invention, therefore, is theprovision of means whereby the percussive 1 action ofy the printing means may be varied ybetween definitelimits; that to say, with the machine in one adjustment the type is made to strike successive blows against the platen and therefore `make an impression on the paper carried thereby through the material'to be tested, each blow being ofsimilar intensity.L vWith the Vmachine differently adjusted, the Vtype yis also caused to strike a successionl of blows, each ot', similar intensity, but eachl blow struck with the changed adjustment is of a different ,intensity from'that struck during the firstladjustment.

`Another feature ofthe' invention relates to the construction of the "mechanism "forv maintaining uniform intensity of the type blows during a successionor series ofblows,

whether the machine ishin one ,adjustment or another, and regardless ofL the speed of ythe driving parts.

TTQV i vFurther features and advantages will Ibey come apparent'gfrom the following description and claims when taken in connection vwith the accompanying drawings,vin`which:

Fig. lis a plan View;v

Fig. 2 isaleft side elevation; i

F 3 isa section on the line-, Fig. l;

Fig. #1* isa section, part `of which is taken on the line f-d ofFig. 2, and another' part on the line l#-413 of Fig. 2; i

Fig. -is substantially similar to-F ig. 4, but with the hammer drivers in set position readyrto be tripped; j

Fig. 6 is a .front elevation, with some partstbrolren away, of the hammer drivers and `thelatching mea-ns` therefor;

`F`ig.7 is a section on the line 7-7, Fig. 6;

.Fig..8 is a front elevation of a modified construction; and y F ig'. 9'is a' sectionlon the-linel 9 9, F ig. 8..

Referring to the drawings, 1 is the `base plate, tozwhich is secured a'right side plate 2 and a left side plate 3. To the under por-` tion of the base plate I secure feet 41 of rubberor similar material. rlhe side plates support all of the parts of the machine, except ing is done, passes from thev supply roll 5 downwardly around a guiding pin`8, which passes through' an aperture in a disl- 9, se-

cured just within the side plate 2, as shown in Fig. l, and is screw-threaded into a disk 10 substantially similar to the disk 9 and secured to the inside of the side plate 3. Passingjacross from yone side plate to the other is a guide rodv 1l, Fig. 3, over which the pap'erpasses, and from thence it is led downwardly under pressure roller 12 and over the platen 141. It then passes'downwardly guided by another pressure roller 15, and thence under the cutting edge 16,

pivotally supported by la rod i7 engaging the side plates. The pressure rollers 12 and 15 engage elongated slots in the side plates 2 an`d'3, and springs 7 and 13, Fig. 2, act to urge their respectiye pressure roller-steward the platen, sothat the paper is held in proper position for receiving type impressions. In order to facilitate threading of the paper over and under the guide rods and rollers, the base plate has a cut-out portion, as shown in Fig. 3, and a plate 18 is provided. The left end of this plate slips under a ledge 19 and its front end is provided with the screw-threaded aperture for the reception of the threaded end of a ,thumb screw 20. A crossbar extends between the side plates at the front of the machine or at the right, as shown in 'Figs 1 and 3, which bar is apertured for the reception of individual type bars 22, each having a type 23 at its farther end. Screws 24 engaging in threaded openings in the bar 21 rmly secure the type bars in place. T he type bars are preferably made of sufficient length and are sufficiently springy so that they normally lie substantially horizontally, as shown in Fig. 3, with the type clear of the paper and also clear of the material to be tested, whether this be a strip of carbon paper or an inking ribbon. During the test, such material is held stationary, over the paper supplied from the feed roll 5, by means of spring fingers 25, shown in Figs. 2 and 4, there being one finger on each side of the machine suitably secured to a respective side plate.

Secured to the side plates 2 and 3 near the top thereof is an apertured bar 26 resting on a ledge of .each side plate. A similar bar 26a is secured to the side plates near the bottoms and a series of hammer drivers or plungers 27 are guided by the apertures and one spring urged in a downward direction. An adjustable frame is also provided which has a left side member 28, which passes through a notch cut in the guide bar 26 and is guided in its up-and-down movement by a channel piece 29 secured to or integral with the side plate To complete the frame there is also provided a right side member 30 also guided by a notch in the right end of the bar 26, and a slotted crossbar 31 is securedto the upper ends of the side members 28 and 29. rlhere is also a bottom crossbar 32 secured to the side members 28 and 30, which crossbar, in the normal position of the parts shown in Fig. 4, is just beneath the guide bar 26. The crossbar 32 is also slotted for the reception of the ends of the drivers or plungers 27. Each driver or plunger 27 is surrounded by a coiled spring 33, maintained in position by its upper end engaging the under side of the crossbar 32 and its lower end engaging a collar 34, Figs. 3 and 5, secured to the plunger. rlfhe frame, above referred to, may be moved from the position shown in Fig. 4 to the position shown in Fig. 5, and when in such position an increased amount of power is stored in all of the springs, and the amount of increase is the same for each. In order to hold-the frame in either of its two positions, thel right side member 30 is notched at 35 and 36, and there is a spring dog 37 pivoted to an ear 38, projecting from the side plate 2. A spring 39 tends to hold the dog in either notch. When the machine is to be used for testing carbon paper, the frame is positioned, as shown in F ig. 4, but when a ribbon is to be tested, the frame is pressed down and locked by the dog in the position shown in Fig. 5.

Situated below the collar 34 on each of the plungers is a pin 42 which projects beyond the forward side of the plunger, or the right side, as seen in Fig. 3, a sufficient dis` tance to be in the path of a cam member by which the plunger is raised to set position. Each of the pins 42 passes through the plunger and each projects from the opposite side thereof a suh'icient distance to be caught by suitable latching means. In the form of construction shown in Figs. 1 to 7, the latch-\ ing means consists of a series of separate latches 43, each pivoted to a common supporting rod 44. A spring 45, one for each latch and having its lower end secured behind a rod 46, urges the latches into position to engage the pins 42. rhere is also provided a guide plate 47 having a series of narrow vertical slots, through which the pins 42 project and which prevent turning of the plungers on their own axes. The plungers normally occupy a position shown in Fig. 4, in which the pins thereof are free of the latches and the plungers rest upon the top of the type bars. n Means are provided to move all the plungers sinmltaneously from the position shown in Fig.4, to the position shown in Fig. 3, in which latter position each plunger or driver is caught and latched by a latch plate 43, and subsequently the latch plates are tripped, permitting all the plungers to descend under the action of their respective springs and deliver a sharp blow on the top of the type member.

The lifting means for the plungers consists of a cam bar 48 which is screwed, or otherwise fastened, to a semi-circular member 49 extending across the machine and having cylindrical bearings at its ends which pass through the side plates 2 and 3. On the right-hand bearing there is secured a gear 50, with which engages a similar gear 51 mounted on the operating shaft of the ma` chine, which in the present case consi-sts of a stub shaft to which is pivoted an operating handle The number of teeth on the gears and 51 are shown as equal, thus giving a ratio of 1: 1, although other ratios may be employed. As the member 49 rotates in a clockwise direction, one edge of the cam bar 48 engages all of the pins 42, thereby lifting the plungers to a position shown in Fig. 3, where they are engaged by the latching means. As the bar cam 48 passes by the pins, its edge engages one end of a dog 54 pivoted at 55 on the right side of the machine, Fig.

6. The .opposite r-end @Of this V.dog engages a. finger C56 projecting ,to y,theright from the right-hand ,-latchlplate 43, :as shown in Fig. 6, `,causing said latch .plate to vmove outwardlyas shown inFig; 7,and thereby release its plunger. .Each latch platee2rcept the one tothe extreme1left,]hasf.alip 5,7 which projects :behind the Vlatch plate immediately adjacentit, to the left. Therefore, when the latch ,plate at .the eatreme right is tripped, it results vin ,Successiaiel-.y tripping the .latch plates-to thefleftso.t hat;all ofthe drivers are released vei-yqnickly butin ksuccessive order. 'lhebar cam 44Sfis widefeuouglnso ,that dur`r inga single rotationeof the `gmember 4,9 .the latches .alie-.tripped twce,once by` each cam edge of the bar. I

In order l`to feed the-.Paper between each impression of the typatheleftiliand bearing of the member 49, which projects through the Ileft s idemlate 3, has secured to it a disk 58. This disk carries two pins 59 and 60 which are so placed in relation to the bar 48 thaty just after the type drivers are tripped, one of these pins engages the top ofy a pawl-carrying slide and moves it downwardly against the action lof, a spring 62.'

The bar6l slides in a guideway, which is pivoted to the side plate 3 to permit slight rocking of the slide 6l. At its lower end, 4said slide is pivoted to allever 63 pivoted to the platen roller shaft. A pawl 64 is also pivoted near the end of the slide bar 61, and is spring-pressed in such manner that its lower end engages ka ratchet Wheel 65, sej cured to the roller platen, whereby the paper is fed a sufficient distance to bring a fresh surface under the printing type. From this construction it is obvious that the paper is fed twice during each rotation of the member 49.

In Figs. 8 and 9, I have shown a modified construction in which the setting and tripping of the type drivers is somewhat differently done. In this construction, the drivers are successively moved to set position and successively tripped, although in this form of construction the tripping of one driver is brought about during the setting of the succeeding driver. As in the preferred form.- there are pins 66 extending through the drivers, these pins corresponding in construction and in function to the pins 42. The means for setting the pins takes the form of a drum 67 having bearings extending through the side plates 2 and 3, as previously described, the right-hand bearing having a gear mounted thereon, and the lefthand bearing having a disk similar to 58 but with only a single pin thereon similar to one of pins 59 or 60. Preferably I make Athe gear ratio between rthe driving and driven gears, 2 to 1, although other ratios may, of course, be used. The drum 67 1s provided with a series of pins 68, spirally neath arranged andheld inset `position ,by Screws 69. As .the drum 67 rotates, a driver is .moved tov set ,position by -a ,-pin 68, .and is caughtiby latching means, which in this4 wardly ,to .an extent sufficient to release :the

previously set driver, which latter `then moves under action of its spring to cause printing from `the type situated under- I have also `shown vin Figs. l.8 kand 9 a modified construction` of the means .for increasing the tension of the type ydriving sp i'ingsalgthougli, ,of course, this form; may be used in connection with the other con` structions described in Figs. l to 7. Re-

ferring to Fig. 9, there is provided a hinged frame carrying a housing '72 which carries a series of supplemental plun ers 73, each` provided with a spring 74. ach spring bears against the upper side ofthe housing, and its lower end is provided with` a cap 77 having a concaved under'portion which fits over the top of the driver 27 when the frame is in the full-line position shown in Fig. 9. The. frame is pivoted about a rod 75, as shown injfull lines. Its inoperative position is shown in dotted lines in said Iig# ure` A pin 76 acts as a stop to limit it in this position. A detaining spring 78 holds the frame in operative position and then the power of the springs 74 is added to that of the springs 33. l

It is obvious that the means for increasing the tension of the springs 33, which has been described in connection with Figs. l to 7, may be used in connection with the particular driver setting the tripping means, shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

It is obvious that other variations ,may be resorted to, within the .scope of the invention,ywithout departing from the principle thereof.

What I claim as new is: v

1. In a testing machine, the combination with individual type and a platen against which the type lmay strike; of a plunger for each type, means for causing each plunger of supplemental springs, one for each driver, and means Jr'or causing said supplemental springs to effectively cooperate with said first mentioned springs to increase the percussive action of the' drivers on the type.

3. ln a testing machine, the combination with individual type Aand a platen against which the type may strike, of a series of plungers causing percussive action of said type, and means for varying the degree of permissive action comprising a frame, a series of supplemental spring actuated pliingers carried by said frame, and means for causing said supplemental plungers to engage the lirst mentioned plungers and thereby increase the percussive action thereof.

4. In a testing machine, the combination with individual type and a platen against which the type may strike; of drivers for said type,`a spring for each driver, an operative shaft, means operated therefrom for nioving the drivers to set position to thereby store power in said springs, latching means for retaining the drivers in set position, and means operated by said shaft for causing tripping or said latching means.

ln a testing machine, the combination with individual type and a platen against which said type may strike; or' drivers for said type, a spring for each driver, rotatable cani means for setting said drivers to thereby store power in said springs, latching means for retaining said drivers in set position, and means operated by said rotatable cam means for tripping said latching means and for rotating the platen between printing strokes of the type.

Signed at New York city, New York, this 291th day of January, 1924.

JACOB A. L. MoLLnR. 

